[Oral microflora of 42 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of squamous cell carcinoma on oral bacteria.

METHODS

This study investigated the microbial contents of the plaque on the surfaces of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Samples were obtained from the central surface of lesions, contiguous healthy mucosa and saliva of 42 patients with oral squamous carcinoma before and after operation.

RESULTS

The median of bacterial colony forming units per milliliter (CFUs/ml) of saliva before operation was 8.10 x 10(8) CFUs/ml. The median of CFUs per square centimeter of the tumor surface was 5.21 x 10(5) CFUs/cm2 which was significantly higher than that of the healthy (the control) mucosa (1.77 x 10(4) CFUs/cm2, P = 0.0001). The CFUs per square centimeter of mucosa surface at the operative zone was 4.34 x 10(5) CFUs/cm2 which was also significantly higher than that of the healthy (control) mucosa(7.24 x 10(4) CFUs/cm2, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Oral carcinoma can break the balance of oral microflora, which may be one of the reasons leading to the high susceptivity of these compromised patients to systemic infection.